Spring is the season when a multitude of colours awaken in the garden when flowers and trees spring into bud and wildlife returns. For ‘green fingered’ owners on caravan parks, North Wales has a wealth of enchanting award winning gardens to visit, with a photo opportunity at every turn. Plas Brondanw organic gardens, the walled gardens at Erddig or maybe the award-winning Bodnant gardens – you will find all of them fascinating whether you know a BusyLizzy from a laburnum, or not.
Here are some of our best suggestions for spring gardens to visit near caravan parks in North Wales, and within easy reach of Whitehouse Leisure Park.
Plas Tan y Bwlch – Snowdonia National Park Centre, Blaenau Ffestiniog
These Victorian gardens showcase many exotic, rare trees and shrubs from world famous species. An 18th-century house and gardens, they were taken over by the National Park Authority in the 1960s, is now a study centre with 13 acres of fantastic gardens to explore. The higher parts of the gardens have a water garden and formal terraces, azalea and rhododendron walks, a Japanese garden and a fern nursery. There is a network of paths and walkways through the semi-wild areas and woodland gardens.
The Dingle Garden – Frochas, Welshpool, Powys
Set in the striking Welsh hills, this 4-acre, south facing garden is a delight to all visitors. Wander the paths down to the lake admiring a variety of unusual herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees. Very peaceful and sheltered, it’s a brilliant place to spot wildlife and take photographs. You may even see some kingfishers and otters.
Plas Cadnant Gardens – Cadnant Road Menai Bridge
Here you will find a 2-acre formal walled garden, recently restored, with a river and woodland areas, historic rock formations and the Valley garden area. The colours in spring are astounding, with vast displays of multicoloured flowers. Thought to be one of the best-kept secrets, hidden gardens of North Wales, these gardens are adjacent to the Menai Strait on the Isle of Anglesey. The former owners of Plas Cadnant were related to the Tremayne family, famous for the lost gardens of Heligan House.
Gwydir Castle Gardens – Llanrwst
Its formal vistas and sweeping views make this one of the most historic, romantic gardens in Wales. They are accorded Grade I listing and represent fine specimens of the Renaissance gardens of the Stuart and Tudor periods. The Knot Garden was laid out in the shape of a Tudor Rose and designed by the famous architect, Sir Charles Barry; while the Old Dutch Garden showcases the yew avenue of 22 enormous yew trees.
Portmeirion Gardens – Portmeirion, Gwynedd
Nestling on the edge of Snowdonia, the Italianate village of Portmeirion was designed and constructed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. The gardens comprise of a formal area as part of the village plus a 70-acre headland location, the Gwylit, a Wild Garden area, 70 varieties of rhododendrons and the Japanese Garden.
Creative Horticulture on Caravan Parks, North Wales
The gardens of North Wales show an astonishing range of landscapes and planting styles. During springtime, you will find an abundance of rhododendrons, magnolias, snowdrops, bluebells and of course, daffodils. A visit to one of these gardens is sure to inspire holiday home owners on caravan parks in North Wales to visit their local garden centres. Recreating these floral displays on holiday home plots is a bit of fun – and artform. At Whitehouse Leisure Park we are lucky to have a great number of enthusiastic horticulturists among our static caravan owners who never fail to impress with the creativity they show every year.
